MTN is not a recognized top-level domain (TLD) in the domain name system of the internet. Currently, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) – the international organization responsible for managing internet protocol numbers and DNS root, and for the administration of TLDs – does not list MTN as an active or proposed TLD.
According to ICANN records, top-level domains (TLD) can be divided into several types: country-code TLDs (ccTLDs), generic TLDs (gTLDs), sponsored gTLDs (sTLDs), and test TLDs (tTLDs). Currently, recognized top-level domains include .com, .org, .net, .gov, .edu, and more. Country-code TLDs include .us, .uk, .de, etc.
MTN, in the world of technology and telecommunications, is a well-known acronym for the multinational company, MTN Group Limited, a South African multinational mobile telecommunications company operating in many African and Asian countries. However, even though the company has a significant digital presence, the acronym MTN is not currently used as a top-level domain in its URLs.
Even some big companies and organizations that have enough influence and resources, have their personalized TLDs. For example, Google invested in the .google domain; Barclays uses .barclays for its websites. In these cases, the companies applied for the creation of their new gTLDs as part of ICANN’s expansion of the domain naming system in 2012.
As the rules currently stand, getting a new TLD involves applying to ICANN, undergoing a rigorous evaluation process including demonstrating the technical and financial ability to manage a TLD, and paying a sizable fee – $185,000 as of the last application round, according to ICANN literature.
Thus, it’s theoretically possible for “MTN” to become a TLD in the future if the MTN Group or another entity were to go through this process and succeed in their application. However, at present, MTN is not listed as an active TLD, proposed TLD or indeed a TLD of any kind, according to the latest data from ICANN.
Sources:
ICANN – New gTLD Program
ICANN – List of TLDs
MTN Group Limited
Google Registry – About Us
ICANN – New gTLD Application Fee
